Facing new ball quite a challenge in India: Temba Bavuma

Temba Bavuma expects the series to be competitive and said that India will challenge South Africa in all aspects of the game, like in the previous series.

Temba Bavuma during a press conference ahead of the first T20I match between India and South Africa at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: PTI

As the final pit stop before the T20 World Cup, South African captain Temba Bavuma reckons the white-ball series against India, starting at the Greenfield stadium on Wednesday, will help his side fill up gaps and give much-needed game time to his players.

Bavuma expects the series to be competitive and said that India will challenge South Africa in all aspects of the game, like in the previous series.

“We expect the series to be competitive. Obviously we are looking at this series to fill up whatever gap that is there. We got guys who will be playing a lot of games and we will need to manage those guys’ intensities and there are guys who need some cricket under their belt. We would like to give them that opportunity. It is our last preparation. Different conditions but game time is most important,’’ he said.

Bavuma said it was good that South Africa was playing a near full-strength Indian team and expected captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to lead from the front.

“Those are big names and we expect them to lead from the front. It is good for us to be coming up against their best,’’ he said.

The South African captain said it will be challenging to face the Indian opening bowlers and the game plan was to limit the damage and then build the momentum. “It is quite challenging as they get the ball to swing and move a little more than what we are accustomed to. We need to limit the damage and then get some momentum going,’’ he said.

India batting coach Vikram Rathour said the final playing eleven will depend on the conditions and added that the team has been shaping up well in the last few games and there was still scope for improvement in all departments.

“We have been putting up par or above par totals since the T20 World Cup and our batting approach has definitely changed. I won’t be harsh on our bowlers, who have pushed the match into the final overs and they were expensive because of the dew factor. But it is one area on which we are working. We will be playing in different conditions in Australia and adapting to those conditions will be the key,’’ he said.